The French driver who was under the influence of drugs when he hit and killed a female British lawyer has been handed four years in jail.
Siân Watson, 35, was on a jog with her husband David in Burgundy when she was fatally hit by a car along the Avenue Charles-de-Gaulle in July.
He administered first aid to his wife before the emergency services took over, but she died at the scene after paramedics were unable resuscitate her. In a moving tribute following the tragedy, the devastated husband described himself as ‘broken’.
The driver, 44-year-old accountant Alexandre Jacquet, tested positive for three drugs, reportedly including heroin and cocaine which he had taken a two days prior to the fatal crash.
The Dijon judicial court delivered its verdict on Wednesday, handing the man a sentence of four years with 18 months suspended for involuntary manslaughter aggravated by drug use.
The tragedy occurred on July 8 at around 9 am, when the talented solicitor was out for a jog while on holiday with her husband in Beaune, a small town in eastern France.
After she was hit by the car, paramedics arrived 15 minutes later and found her in cardiac arrest. Her husband was said to be in shock but physically unharmed.
Siân Watson, 35, was on a jog with her husband David in Burgundy when she was fatally hit by a car along the Avenue Charles-de-Gaulle in July
Her firm described her as ‘universally respected’ and a ‘vital member of the team’
In a heartbreaking Facebook post following her death, David eulogised his wife:
‘She was my one, my whole life, my beautiful, intelligent, feisty, tenacious, determined, incredible wife,’ he wrote.
‘I wanted to grow old with this amazing woman and she was taken from us far far too soon. I don’t know what I will do now, I am broken.’
Siân graduated from Jesus College at the University of Oxford with a master’s degree in chemistry before becoming a solicitor at Osbourne Clarke in London.
There, she worked for eight years on the Intellectual Property Disputes team, and was recently promoted to associate director.
Her firm described her as ‘universally respected’ and a ‘vital member of the team’.
‘She was fiercely intelligent, well liked, kind and had a wry sense of humour,’ the company wrote.
‘While she had many talents, we will especially miss her generosity of spirit, brilliant mind and her tranquil force.’
The tragedy occurred on July 8 at around 9 am, when the talented London solicitor was out for a jog while on holiday with her husband in Beaune, a small town in eastern France (File image of Beaune)
Her husband described her as a ‘fiercely intelligent, bright burning star’ on a JustGiving charity fundraiser he set up in the wake of her death.
She was someone who was ‘full of happiness and joy, who cared deeply for others and always took the time to help others achieve their full potential’, David wrote.
He added that she achieved great success without attending a private school, and that her accomplishments were because she was ‘lucky enough to have a hugely loving and supportive family’.
In her memory, he is raising money for the Access Project – a charity that helps young people from poorer backgrounds access top universities.
David said that Siân above all ‘cared deeply for a sense of fairness and ‘prided herself on helping others to be the best they can be’.
‘She was so cruelly taken from us far too soon. In honour of her I would love to help keep her sense of caring, fairness, joy, love and hard work alive.’
In a moving tribute on Facebook on July 17, he wrote: ‘Today she finally was able to come home. Thank you for all the kind messages, I really appreciate it.
‘To my amazing wife, please rest in peace, I miss you more than you know, I will see you again.’
The family has raised nearly £11,000 as of Friday September 5.
